Chicago Transam Race Runs Out Of Gas

Still another Chicagoland Grand Prix auto race died on the drawing board Friday.

Mayor Donald E. Stephens of Rosemont canceled a projected TransAm auto race that was to have been held in the Horizon parking lot July 13.

The event, which had received sanction by the Sports Car Club of America, was axed because corporate sponsorship money was lacking, a spokesman said.

Cary Capparelli, a former race car driver who had been hired as executive director of the event, said he had received corporate commitments for $345,000, approximately $155,000 short of the $500,000 necessary to hold the event.

A so-called Chicago Grand Prix, championed by the administration of former Mayor Jane Byrne in 1981, was canceled because of city politics and opposition from park users. A 1982 auto racing venture, promoted by another Chicago group and scheduled for the Soldier Field parking lot, also was called off because of financial problems.